Date of intake:: 10/4/2025

Means of surrender (length of time in previous home):: Stray(Unknown History)

Date of assessment:: 10/10/2025

Summary:: Leash Walking Strength and pulling: reluctant to leave the kennel, needed several minutes with high value (chicken breast) to leave the crate Reactivity to humans: inconclusive - did not pass Reactivity to dogs: inconclusive - did not pass Leash walking comments: Sociability Loose in room (15-20 seconds): tense body, wary of movement, does accept cheese, but does not warm, mostly keeps to self Call over: no approach Sociability comments: slow movements, wide eyes Handling Soft handling: stiff, lip licks Exuberant handling: stiff, lip licks Handling comments: does not shake off or warm up Arousal Jog: plants, will not move Arousal comments: Knock: no response Knock Comments: Toy: no response Toy comments:

Summary:: Due to entering the facility as a stray, there is no prior dog-to-dog history recorded. 10/06/25 Elvis is introduced at the gate to a novel female dog while off leash at the care center. Elvis will approach the gate and immediately disengage, making a sharp turn before approaching the gate. Elvis displays look aways and a trembling body appearing nervous. Elvis walks away and maintains his distance from the gate. Elvis is returned to kennel, concluding the interaction.

Summary (5):: 10/13/25: Elvis is standing in the middle of kennel with a neutral frame as handler approaches. He comes forward with a loose frame and allows handler to clip his collar without issue. He is walked to the live room where he readily explores and eats treats offered to him. Elvis approaches handler intermittently to solicit petting, leaning in with a loose frame throughout. After his time in the room, he is returned to kennel safely.

Summary (6):: 10/9/25: Elvis is laying on the floor of his kennel as the handler approaches. He gets up and retreats to his bed as the handler opens the door. After tossing some treats and coaxing him to the front, Elvis continues to retreat to his bed. The handler comes back after a few minutes with treats that Elvis seems to take readily. They slowly toss treats and form a line with them to the door. Elvis will eat them, walking slowly towards the door. The handler then carefully clips his collar and he walks out of his kennel cautiously. Elvis is able to walk to the room with some coaxing from a familiar handler. He will walk slowly but upon entering the room he loosens up, untucking his tail and approaching handlers with a loose wiggly body as he solicits petting. After a while, the handler attempts to take Elvis back to his kennel on his drag leash but he will plant at the door and will not move for treats or even when the handler places a towel on the ground. Multiple behavior staff members attempt coaxing him forward but Elvis will not walk forward. He eventually lays down on the ground and is momentarily taking cheese from a handler. He is lured over a towel and a sling and lifted onto a trolly but he hops off. He will head whip and flinch when a handler attempts to pick him up but is eventually guided back to his kennel with a towel under his chest and sling on his hind end. He is unclipped from his drag leash and secured safely. 10/8 (PM): Elvis is standing in his crate when a handler approaches. He begins wagging his tail and offers one subtle wiggle before he retreats to the back of his crate when the crate door unlocks. The handler offers him sliced cheese, and he follows it to the front of his crate and readily accepts it from the handler with a soft mouth. Moving slowly, the handler continues to feed him cheese as they clip his collar. This takes two attempts as he initially retreats when he sees the drag leash. The handler moves to the side and opens the crate door fully to allow him to exit on his own. A few seconds later, he walks out. He trots beside the handler to the behavior office. He spends the majority of the session sniffing out scents before circling back to checking in with the handler. Elvis briefly nudges the handler's hands for pets. The handler does short brief pets before pausing to see if he would solicit again and he does, eventually leaning into their legs. He briefly approaches a second handler, sniffing them before walking away. The handler walks Elvis to the door, still on the drag leash and he pauses when at the doorway, peeking out before following the handler's coaxing. He brought him to a new kennel, but he balks once in front. He no longer takes cheese and only walks into the kennel when the handler pretends to do the same.

Summary (7):: 10/08/25 Elvis will rise and retreat to the back of his kennel as the handler approaches. Elvis body will tense up, and he will stare at the handler with a hard face. Elvis growls at the handler as they attempt to lasso him. Elvis will stress yawn and duck and dodge the lead. Elvis's crate is clean and due to his reluctance to exit the kennel, is left alone. A blanket is placed over his crate to cover him. 10/7 (behavior staff POV): When arriving to assist an ACS with Elvis, he is planted on the corner of the sidewalk, refusing to move. Two handlers attempt to coax Elvis with ham and spray cheese, but he does not take either. He does approach one handler, and they take a few steps to coax him along further. He follows briefly before balking again in the middle of an active crosswalk. The second handler stands behind Elvis to prevent him from scooting back towards the traffic and he growls; still refusing treats and ignoring toys. Elvis stands on his own and walks to the other side of the crosswalk without prompting. Once on the sidewalk, Elvis pancakes fully, back legs stretched out and refuses to move further. One handler goes into the building to get a cart and the other finds a towel. When the other handler comes back with the cart, he is lifted onto the cart using the towel and wheeled back into the building. Elvis walks back into his crate on his own. This took close to or a little over 20 minutes to get Elvis back inside safely. 10/7/25: Elvis is seen bulking during a walk with animal care staff. Behavior assistance was requested, which they then had Elvis climb onto a cart and rolled him into the building. 10/5/25: (assessment) Elvis is sitting at the back of his crate with a tense frame as the handler approaches. A second handler approaches with cheese and tosses it into the crate, Elvis is interested in the food and will take some chicken but becomes avoidant of the leash. The handler places the leash on the floor of the crate and he will begin to take treats from the loop but once it is lifted he will shy away from it. Elvis is eventually leashed and walked into the behavior office. There he is fitted with a collar and drag leash. (see assessment for details) Once his assessment is complete, Elvis will walk to the door frame and refuse to move forward. The handler then tries to walk out the other way but he still freezes. He finally will walk through the door when a towel is placed on the door and is safely secured in his crate.

Date of intake:: 10/4/2025

Summary:: tolerant, outgoing, easily leashed, nervous during collaring, walked to kennel but needed coaxing

Date of initial:: 10/7/2025

Summary:: tail tucked, avoids eye contact, loves treats and tolerated all tasks

BEHAVIOR DETERMINATION:: New Hope Only

Recommendations:: No children (under 13),Place with a New Hope partner

Recommendations comments:: No children (under 13): Due to the high levels of fearfulness and avoidance displayed in care, we recommend that Elvis be placed in an adult-only home. Place with a New Hope partner: Elvis came into the care center as a stray.Due to this, his history in a home environment is unknown.Elvis is a sensitive, fearful dog who warms up slowly and benefits from calm, predictable handling. Once comfortable, he softens, wags, and solicits gentle affection with a loose, wiggly body. However, he remains highly sensitive to environmental changes, leashing, and physical handling, often freezing or balking during transitions and showing avoidance when pressured. Elvis would thrive in placement with a New Hope partner experienced with fearful and handling-sensitive dogs who can provide a quiet, decompression-oriented environment and gradual desensitization to handling and movement.

Potential challenges: : Handling/touch sensitivity,Fearful/potential for defensive aggression

Potential challenges comments:: Handling/Touch Sensitivity / Fearful/potential for defensive aggression: Elvis is a sensitive and fearful dog who benefits from calm, predictable handling. He warms up slowly, and once comfortable, he softens—wagging and soliciting gentle affection with a loose, wiggly body. Despite progress, he remains highly sensitive to environmental changes, leashing, and physical handling. He often freezes or balks during transitions and shows avoidance when pressured. Elvis would benefit from a slow, trust-building approach with desensitization to handling and routine changes. Please see the handout Handling/touch sensitivity and decompression period.